The 2025 Thanksgiving box office delivered one of the most robust holiday performances in years, fueled by Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Universal’s Wicked: For Good. With an estimated $294 million in total domestic ticket sales over the five-day frame, industry analysts say the results mark a critical return to form for Hollywood after a volatile post-summer season. Final figures, due Monday, could secure the weekend’s position as either the third- or fourth-biggest Thanksgiving haul in box office history.

A Historic Opening for Disney’s Animated Powerhouse

Disney once again dominated the holiday corridor with Zootopia 2, which generated an estimated $156 million domestically and an extraordinary $556 million worldwide — the largest global opening for an animated film ever recorded. The sequel also secured the fourth-highest global opening of any movie in history, reflecting the strength of the Disney brand and the enduring appeal of family-centered content.

Box office analysts credit the success to a combination of strong franchise loyalty, all-ages accessibility, and pent-up demand for major family releases. Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore described the film’s debut as “a staggering global result,” noting that the sequel captured precisely what families worldwide are seeking when returning to theaters.

The film’s performance also set new Thanksgiving benchmarks, including the second-highest Thanksgiving day haul and second-best opening for both the five-day and traditional three-day periods, trailing only the record-breaking performance of Moana 2 in 2024.

Universal’s ‘Wicked: For Good’ Helps Power the Weekend Surge

Complementing Disney’s breakout hit, Universal’s Wicked: For Good contributed approximately $93 million domestically across the same five-day period. Although lower than the first Wicked film’s $118 million Thanksgiving tally in 2024, the sequel played a crucial role in driving broader traffic to cinemas.

The film demonstrated resilience among musical and event-style releases, a category that has been challenged by shifting audience preferences and streaming competition. Analysts say the dual success of Wicked: For Good and Zootopia 2 illustrates how strategic counter-programming can elevate overall market performance by reaching distinct demographic segments.

IMAX Breaks Records as Premium Formats Surge

IMAX delivered one of the weekend’s standout achievements, reporting its best five-day Thanksgiving performance ever with $40.8 million in global ticket sales — a 70% jump from its previous record set in 2024. The surge underscores the persistent audience appetite for premium theatrical formats, especially for visually rich titles.

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond said the back-to-back strength of family and event-style programming “sent our global box office soaring past expectations,” reinforcing the value of large-format engagement.

Holiday Momentum Sets the Tone for Year-End Box Office

Industry observers expect both films to maintain strong momentum leading into December, a month that traditionally amplifies family turnout. The forthcoming release of Disney’s Avatar: Fire and Ash is poised to extend the holiday surge further, potentially pushing year-end totals closer to pre-pandemic benchmarks.

After months of uneven performance, the Thanksgiving weekend has renewed confidence across studios, exhibitors, and investors. With a diverse slate of blockbusters and awards contenders entering the final stretch of 2025, the industry appears headed for a far stronger finish than anticipated.